But David Lammy, who represents London's Tottenham neighborhood (where the troubles began) in Parliament argues that BlackBerry's mobile messaging service in particular needs to be suspended because it has allowed "unsophisticated criminals" to outmaneuver police.

And police say they need the power to make protesters remove their masks in order to help identify those who turn violent.

As The Associated Press reports, "police [have] continued to make arrests linked to the disturbances, with the number of arrests in London alone climbing to 820. Courts were staffing around the clock to process alleged looters, vandals and thieves — including one as young as 11."